Winemaker
(Wine Jobs:
Vineyards & Cellars )

The Foreign Affair Winery

Vineland Station,
Ontario

The Foreign Affair Winery is owned and operated by Corby Spirit and Wine Ltd.

For more information on The Foreign Affair Winery and our portfolio of wines, please visit our website at foreignaffairwinery.com

Corby’s portfolio of owned brands includes some of the most renowned brands in Canada, including Wiser's Canadian Whisky, Lamb's Rum and Polar Ice Vodka. Through its affiliation with Pernod Ricard S.A., Corby also represents leading international brands such as ABSOLUT Vodka, Chivas Regal, Glenlivet, Ballantine’s Scotch Whiskies, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Beefeater Gin, Malibu Rum, Kahlua Liqueur, Mumm Champagne, Jacob's Creek, Wyndham Estate and Stoneleigh wines. An overview of the entire Corby portfolio shows over 5,000,000 cases sold annually, with Corby being a significant importer of wines and having an approximate 21 percent market share of spirit sales in Canada.

Why work at Corby? Because we are a great place to work! And we’re not the only ones who think so. Corby was named one of Canada’s Best Workplaces for 7 years by The Great Place to Work® Institute Canada, based on employee survey results and an audit of workplace excellence and people management practices.

Position Summary:

The Foreign Affair Winery Winemaker is primarily responsible for the quality and style of all the wines produced by (and for) The Foreign Affair Winery and for ensuring the wines can be made at a cost agreed by company management. This is achieved through a thorough understanding of the Foreign Affair strategy, the brand marketing platforms and the economics of grape growing and winemaking in Ontario. The Foreign Affair Winery Winemaker also acts as a brand ambassador and so is expected to be a good communicator and available for markets, gate keepers and the media when required.

Position Dimensions / Roles Reporting to Position / Decision Making Authority:

Position Dimensions:

This role reports to the General Manager – Foreign Affair Winery

Roles reporting to position:

Assistant Winemaker

Cellar Hand

Seasonal Harvest Staff

Decision Making Authority:

Winemaking protocols

Wine styles

Key Responsibilities/Accountabilities:

Winemaking

Responsible for style development to meet consumer needs, brand positioning and wine profitability.

Responsible for ensuring the style agreed for all wine SKU’s can be delivered through the winery operation at the cost of goods that is required to make the wines commercially acceptable.

Responsible for supervision and relationship of third-party vineyard management company.

Responsible for coordinating dry goods purchasing.

Responsible for coordinating annual oak barrel purchases.

Responsible for creating and approving back label descriptions for each wine release.

Ensure quality control systems are promoted in accordance with Company Policy and Food Safety.

Regular checking on cellar operations to ensure maintenance of quality standards and performance.

Making required and timely VQA submissions for all wines produced.

Monitoring and maintenance of wine inventory.

Play a key role in planning the functional operations of the winery (cellar, barrel, laboratory & winemaking) to achieve the agreed commercial and wine quality objectives.

In conjunction with the General Manager develop and drive winery planning/efficiency tools as they relate to both site and packaging requirements.

Act as ambassador for the Foreign Affair brand, by hosting tastings and technical visits & tours at the winery.

Ensure the maintenance of accurate records of inventory, blends and procedures etc.

Maintaining the security of key technical information and procedures.

Preparation of written reports when required, along with preparation of operational reports for circulation to senior management covering productivity, cost, safety, quality and topical operational issues.

Business Improvement

Make a strong contribution to the grape sourcing.

Make a strong contribution to any and all cogs initiatives needed to maintain the evolution of standard costs at or below inflation.

In collaboration with Marketing team ensure our wine portfolio is growing and developing along with our consumer preferences and to meet new market opportunities.

Actively lead, influence and participate in experimentation and innovation from grape through to finished wine to achieve our goal of an exciting, interesting and premium wine portfolio.

Take an interest in both global consumer trends as they relate to wine and related beverages as well as new winemaking techniques and technologies to ensure Foreign Affair maintains a fresh and enquiring perspective on the wine category.

Keep up to date with technology and ideas that could be beneficial within Foreign Affair and the broader Ontario wine industry.

Challenge the status quo and look for new solutions to ongoing and new problems

Experience working under ISO guidelines and managing continuous improvement initiatives

Understanding of Ontario/Canadian legal requirements related to wine

Understanding of the strategic planning process with an ability to set achievable goals and evaluate performance against measurable outcomes

Forklift license and experience.

Special Conditions:

Out of hours work may be required.

Domestic travel as required.

Current driver’s license.

Work is performed in a typical field environment with heavy demands for movement and lifting.

This position description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required, and the employee may be required to perform other duties (that they are skilled to perform) as needed.

We welcome and encourage applications from individuals from all groups, including aboriginal, women, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, creed, family status, national origin, age and gender.

Corby Spirit and Wine Ltd is committed to providing accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. Should you require accommodation during any phase of the recruitment process or wish to view our accommodation policies, please contact the Human Resources Department at Accessibilty.Canada@pernod-ricard.com

Thank you for your interest in Pernod Ricard and its subsidiaries, Corby Spirit and Wine Limited and Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd. All resumes submitted will be reviewed by our recruitment team and kept on file for six months in consideration for this and future opportunities. Please note that only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Please do not contact provincial offices directly as all recruitment is coordinated through the Corporate Office in Toronto.

How To Apply

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